KAP Study of Tobacco Users among the Garment Workers at Dhaka City in Bangladesh

The readymade garment (RMG) industry is a key sector of Bangladesh economy. This sector brings in about 78% of the country’s total merchandize export earnings. More than 3.2 million people are working in this sector and mostly females from underprivileged social classes.Employment in this Ready-made garment sector in Bangladesh provides workers with economic benefits and some empowerment. A descriptive cross-sectional study followed by a qualitative approach was utilized. Through proportionate quota sampling, 560 garments workers were recruited from 6(one large, two medium, and three small) garment factories in Mirpur area of Dhaka city.Almost all of the garments workers knew that both smoking and smokeless tobacco (98.4%) is harmful for health. Knowledge on specific health hazards of smoking (96.96%) tobacco was relatively higher than those of smokeless (90%) tobacco. Electronic media (Radio/TV/Cinema) was themost common source of their knowledge (92.9%). In case of smoking tobacco, cancer (63.6%) was the mostly reported disease caused by smoking tobacco, followed by lung cancer (15.7%) and heart attack (11.3%). On the other hand, for smokeless tobacco, cancer (29.8%), followed by oral cancer (26.6%) and lung cancer (15.0%) was mostly reported diseases by the garments workers. Garment workers’ knowledge on tobacco control policy was found to be very low. Only 35.0% knew about the policy. Although few garments workers know about the rules for prohibition of tobacco product in public place (25.7%) and public transport (11.3%), other specific rules under tobacco control policy were not known to majority of them. The present study provides a scientific base regarding current tobacco using practice among garments workers in Dhaka city and their knowledge and attitude towards tobacco. Finding revealed from qualitative analysis of data suggested that now-a-days smoking is considered as a trend; people have to smoke for showing smartness or to maintain social status. Peer influence also plays an important role for initiating and maintaining smoking status. Socio-cultural influence for smokeless tobacco consumption was not well documented by this study which indicated a need for more focused qualitative study.

Hysterosalpingography in Infertility.

Background: Infertility is a common medical problem. It can be due to problems in either partner, or both. Ovulatory dysfunction, tubal and peritoneal factors comprise the majority of female factor for infertility. Hysterosalpingography (HSG) plays an important role in the evaluation of abnormalities related to the uterus and fallopian tubes. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the hysterosalpingographic findings of women with infertility in our setting. Materials and method: This cross sectional study was carried out in the infertility centre at BIRDEM, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of September 2002 to February 2003. Out of 100 infertile patients 50 infertile women of reproductive age (21-40 years) indicated for HSG were enrolled in this study. Results: Sixty percent patients had secondary infertility. Majority of the subjects of both primary and secondary infertility (55% and 60%) were in 26-30 years age group. On HSG any sort of uterine pathology was found in 10% cases and unilateral and bilateral tubal block were present in 24% and 20% cases respectively. Conclusion: Hysterosalpingography, a safe, less invasive procedure, has an important role in diagnosing uterine and tubal factors of infertility.

Acute Postpartum Pulmonary Edema in a 32-Year-Old Woman Five Days after Cesarean Delivery.

Acute dyspnea after pregnancy is a rare presentation, and a number of important conditions may accompany it. Pulmonary embolism, amniotic fluid embolism, pneumonia, aspiration and pulmonary edema are some of the potential causes that must be considered. The percentage of pregnancies that are complicated by acute pulmonary edema has been estimated 0.08%. The most common contributing factors include the administration of tocolytic agents, underlying cardiac disease, iatrogenic fluid overload and preeclampsia. Here we report a case of 32- year-old woman of 5th postpartum day following lower uterine cesarean section with acute dyspnea from her first pregnancy who was admitted in coronary care unit with history of one episode of raised blood pressure 160/90 mm Hg and cough on 1st postoperative day. Clinical examination and relevant investigations explored that it was a case of bilateral pulmonary edema. Patient was kept in ventilator and was treated with nitroglycerine (GTN), frusemide and ACE inhibitor. After diuresis, considerable improvement was observed in her respiratory status. From the 4th day, the patient became hemodynamically stable and was weaned off the ventilator. After five days, all the biochemical parameters became normal and she had no dyspnea.